As If Seeing Treasure Before Them

Following behind Miejue, Gu Shaoan stepped onto the ascending stairs. His pace was steady, but his gaze meticulously swept over every inch of the surrounding mountain scenery between his measured steps.

On both sides of the stone steps grew forests that had weathered the storms, appearing even more vigorous for it. The thick tree trunks seemed like coiled dragons, and the mountain wind, no longer stingy as it was at the foot of the mountain, carried the fragrance of grass and trees as it blew past.

Compared to the precipitousness of Emei, Wudang's Tianzhu Peak appeared much gentler, yet it exuded an air of grandeur and majesty.

Occasionally, Wudang disciples descended the stairs from the summit. Upon seeing Song Yuanqiao and the others, they quickly moved aside and bowed.

The atmosphere here was also more vibrant.

Although the disciples coming and going were not necessarily outstanding in martial arts, they were full of spirit and vitality, giving people a feeling of upward momentum.

This vigor did not stem from themselves but more from Wudang, the force standing behind them.

This was also one of the reasons why all forces in the martial world sought to rise higher and higher.

If the force one belonged to was powerful enough, its disciples could also feel honored.

Looking around, the scenery on Wudang Mountain was entirely different from what he had seen at Emei.

However, the sense of prosperity emanating from the sect was something Emei lacked.

Of course, if it weren't for Song Qingshu's occasional glances, Gu Shaoan might have found the scenery on Wudang Mountain even more pleasant.

Upon entering the Zhenwu Great Hall, Yu Lianzhou, the second-ranked among the Wudang Seven Heroes, Zhang Songxi, the fourth-ranked, and Mo Shenggu, the seventh-ranked, were already present.

After Miejue scanned them, her gaze involuntarily drifted towards the statue of the True Martial Great Emperor in the hall.

On the wall behind the statue's left ear, a treasure sword was clearly visible.

The hilt and sheath were both gold and silver, densely patterned, appearing noble and extraordinary.

The sword, still in its sheath, was inserted into the wall, with three inches of the sheath embedded.

It was evident that someone with profound cultivation power had forcibly driven the treasure sword into the wall.

Noticing Miejue's gaze, Gu Shaoan's eyes flickered as he briefly swept his gaze over the Heavenly Sword.

Initially, the reason Gu Shaoan joined Emei was not solely due to his golden trait, [Abbess's Favor].

Throughout the Great Wei, there were not many experts who possessed both high personal strength and the status of an Abbess, but there were some.

The most famous was Cihang Jingzhai, which, like Emei, required becoming a nun as a prerequisite to becoming the Sect Leader.

Or the Hengshan Sect of the Five Great Sword Schools, where almost everyone in the sect, from top to bottom, was a nun, which was also very suitable for Gu Shaoan.

But after much thought, Gu Shaoan still decided to go to Emei.

The reason, besides the easier entry into Emei, was that Emei also possessed profound martial arts.

These martial arts were hidden within the treasure map inside the Heavenly Sword.

By following the treasure map, one could find the map to Peach Blossom Island, as well as the complete Nine Yin Manual and the Essence of the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms buried on Peach Blossom Island by Huang Rong and Guo Jing.

If he could obtain these two techniques, even without the ability to draw lottery rewards through achievement points, Gu Shaoan believed that with diligent practice, he could secure a place in the martial world in the future.

Seeing the Heavenly Sword now, Gu Shaoan naturally felt as if he had found a treasure before him.

However, after a moment, Gu Shaoan concealed his gaze again, lowered his eyes, and stood quietly behind Miejue.

A short while later, after the formalities were exchanged and Miejue took her seat as a guest, Gu Shaoan stood behind her with Zhou Zhiruo.

Quiet and well-behaved.

In contrast, Song Qingshu, who had been unable to find an opportunity to speak with Zhou Zhiruo, appeared somewhat impatient.

Song Yuanqiao sighed inwardly, regretting his negligence in his teachings.

After Miejue had tasted the tea served by the Wudang disciples.

Song Yuanqiao finally spoke, "Abbess, the letter you sent previously proposed that Emei and our Wudang disciples engage in sparring. Will this exchange follow the same method as before?"

Miejue put down her teacup and replied calmly, "Naturally."

Hearing Miejue's response, Song Yuanqiao, without any doubt, said to Zhang Songxi, "Fourth Martial Brother, go select ten third-generation disciples to spar with Emei's esteemed disciples."

Zhang Songxi did not waste words, rose, cupped his hands in greeting to Miejue, and quickly departed.

Miejue sat calmly on her chair, waiting.

Only her peripheral vision was occasionally drawn to the Heavenly Sword, still deeply embedded in the wall.

Half an hour later, ten Wudang disciples were brought by Zhang Songxi.

Song Yuanqiao rose and gestured, "Abbess, please."

Led by Song Yuanqiao, they arrived at the training ground outside the Zhenwu Great Hall.

As a top-tier force, Wudang had thousands of disciples. The training ground, used for internal instruction, was understandably vast.

Its diameter was a hundred zhang.

Within the training ground, tables and chairs were already arranged side by side, and hundreds of Wudang disciples who had heard the news had gathered to witness the sparring between the disciples of the two sects.

After Miejue, Song Yuanqiao, and the others were seated, Mo Shenggu, the seventh-ranked among the Seven Heroes, stepped forward to preside.

As an Emei disciple and a Wudang disciple stood in the center of the field, the atmosphere on the training ground instantly became solemn, with hundreds of eyes focused on the two individuals.

Mo Shenggu stood solemnly to the side and announced loudly, "As fellow members of the Righteous Path of the martial world, we spar to exchange skills. Stop when the point is made."

After the two disciples nodded in acknowledgment, Mo Shenggu took two steps back.

As both sides finished their courtesies, the tall female disciple from Emei darted out first. Just as she was about to strike, she flicked her wrist. The longsword in her hand let out a clear, resonant dragon's cry. The sword moved like a flowing cloud, thrusting directly at her opponent's wrist – it was the Flowing Cloud Swordplay from Emei Swordplay.

The Wudang disciple opposite her remained composed. Facing this swift sword strike, his footwork was neither rushed nor slow. His body shifted slightly, and he evaded the sword tip as if a gentle breeze rustled willow branches. He countered with "Young Monk Salutes Buddha" from Wudang Cotton Palm.

The palm strike was a mix of feints and reality. It appeared to be aimed at her left shoulder, but it held a hidden grappling technique.

The two engaged and separated in an instant, sword light and palm shadows intertwining. Within three to four moves, the Emei female disciple's sword momentum was deflected, her footing became unstable, and Zhang Songyan's fingertips lightly touched her Jianjing acupoint.

Mo Shenggu shouted, "Stop! Wudang wins!"

Next, another robust disciple from Wudang stepped forward. He was powerful and imposing, unleashing Wudang Long Fist with steady, solid strikes.

An Emei female disciple met him with agile swordplay, using skill to overcome strength. After thirty moves, her nimble sword gained the upper hand.

The subsequent matches saw victories for both sides.

The Emei disciples, with their tricky swordplay and agile movements, seized the initiative multiple times, often deciding the outcome within a few moves.

However, the Wudang disciples had solid foundations and long-lasting Internal Energy. They were particularly adept at defense and neutralizing force. After stabilizing their footing in the later rounds, they relied on their deep heritage and the calming Tai Chi Essentials to turn the tide.

After watching several sparring matches, Gu Shaoan's heart stirred slightly.

Indeed, in terms of heritage, Wudang still falls quite short.

The Wudang Sect had only been established for a few decades.

Its rise to become a top-tier force could be attributed entirely to Zhang Sanfeng, the foremost martial artist of the Great Wei.

Therefore, in terms of the strength of Wudang's younger generation of disciples, it was not much different from that of the Emei disciples.

This was also why, after Zhang Sanfeng no longer casually descended the mountain, the Wudang Sect often had to cooperate with righteous sects like Shaolin and Emei in their dealings.

If it were Shaolin, or any other top-tier sect in the martial world with a history of hundreds of years, it would be extremely difficult for Emei to win even a single match against their younger generation disciples.